Summer’s not over yet—so don’t stop exploring just yet.
Here in Ohio, you don’t have to always have money on hand when you want to experience something new and adventurous. All around you are free, outdoor attractions you can take advantage of. Here are 10 of our favorite, completely free things to do in the outdoors. See how many you’ve done:
- Visit your local beach.
Thomas E/Trip Advisor Just because Ohio isn’t a coastal state, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any decent beaches. (For some great beach suggestions, click here.)
- Go on a spontaneous camping trip.
MissMessie/Flickr Sometimes, it’s fun to be spontaneous, pack up the car with your camping gear and retreat into nature for a few days. That’s why it’s important to know where the Ohio campgrounds are that don’t require reservations. From remote campsites tucked away in national forests to towpath campsites along the Ohio Erie & Canalway, you might be surprised just how many places you can camp in Ohio without a reservation. For some suggestions, click here.
- Take a day trip to your favorite lake.
Mathieu Thouvenin/Flickr From the shores of Lake Erie to the little-known lakes tucked away in state parks, there’s likely a picture perfect lake getaway less than an hour away from you. Ohio is full of gorgeous lakes that make great campsites, fishing spots and serene places to clear your mind. (For some of our favorites, click here.)
- Explore a state forest.
Paul Schmitzer/Flickr One of the best ways to embrace all that nature has to offer in the Buckeye State is by taking a long walk (or a weekend-long camping trip) into one of our breathtaking state forests. For some suggestions, click here.
- Go geocaching.
cachemania/Flickr For the adventurous type, geocaching is the perfect way to spend a summer day—and Ohio is actually one of the best states to get your geocache on. If you are not sure what it is, geocaching is define as “the recreational activity of hunting for and finding a hidden object by means of GPS coordinates posted on a website.” With a little sleuthing and GPS technology, you can locate many of the world’s 2.6 million geocaches right here in Ohio. (Click here for some location suggestions.)
- Hike to some ruins.
Gryfudd/Trip Advisor Ohio tells an interesting story. Rich with an American Indian legacy and evidence of a long-forgtten coal mining industry, there’s always something from the past we can still explore in Ohio today. To see some trails that will lead you to some fascinating ruins, click here.
- Take a bike ride.
Hockhocking Adena Bikeway/Facebook Taking a short bike ride down a paved, gorgeous path is the perfect way to embrace a beautiful day. Fortunately, our state has plenty of great bike trails to explore. (You can check out some of them by clicking here.)
- Visit a state park you’ve never been to before.
Salt Fork State Park/Facebook With more than 70 state parks, we’ve got plenty of beautiful places to explore here in the Buckeye State. From mossy gorges and state forests to hidden waterfalls and stunning lakeshores, there’s always something photo-worthy you’ll find in an Ohio state park. To see some of our favorites, click here.
- Chase waterfalls.
excelglen/Flickr You don’t always have to hike off the beaten path to find a waterfall in Ohio. From urban waterfalls you pass along the sidewalk to metropark waterfalls you can drive to, there are waterfalls hiding in plain sight all over the state. (For some suggestions on where to look for them, click here.)
- Explore a cave.
April Dray/Only In Your State When it comes to aboveground caves and colorful caverns, Ohio is full of several rock shelters to explore that will make you feel like Indian Jones himself. To view a map that leads you to some of Ohio’s most impressive caves, click here.
What kinds of outdoor adventures have you had this summer? Let us know!
Thomas E/Trip Advisor
Just because Ohio isn’t a coastal state, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any decent beaches. (For some great beach suggestions, click here.)
MissMessie/Flickr
Sometimes, it’s fun to be spontaneous, pack up the car with your camping gear and retreat into nature for a few days. That’s why it’s important to know where the Ohio campgrounds are that don’t require reservations. From remote campsites tucked away in national forests to towpath campsites along the Ohio Erie & Canalway, you might be surprised just how many places you can camp in Ohio without a reservation. For some suggestions, click here.
Mathieu Thouvenin/Flickr
From the shores of Lake Erie to the little-known lakes tucked away in state parks, there’s likely a picture perfect lake getaway less than an hour away from you. Ohio is full of gorgeous lakes that make great campsites, fishing spots and serene places to clear your mind. (For some of our favorites, click here.)
Paul Schmitzer/Flickr
One of the best ways to embrace all that nature has to offer in the Buckeye State is by taking a long walk (or a weekend-long camping trip) into one of our breathtaking state forests. For some suggestions, click here.
cachemania/Flickr
For the adventurous type, geocaching is the perfect way to spend a summer day—and Ohio is actually one of the best states to get your geocache on. If you are not sure what it is, geocaching is define as “the recreational activity of hunting for and finding a hidden object by means of GPS coordinates posted on a website.” With a little sleuthing and GPS technology, you can locate many of the world’s 2.6 million geocaches right here in Ohio. (Click here for some location suggestions.)
Gryfudd/Trip Advisor
Ohio tells an interesting story. Rich with an American Indian legacy and evidence of a long-forgtten coal mining industry, there’s always something from the past we can still explore in Ohio today. To see some trails that will lead you to some fascinating ruins, click here.
Hockhocking Adena Bikeway/Facebook
Taking a short bike ride down a paved, gorgeous path is the perfect way to embrace a beautiful day. Fortunately, our state has plenty of great bike trails to explore. (You can check out some of them by clicking here.)
Salt Fork State Park/Facebook
With more than 70 state parks, we’ve got plenty of beautiful places to explore here in the Buckeye State. From mossy gorges and state forests to hidden waterfalls and stunning lakeshores, there’s always something photo-worthy you’ll find in an Ohio state park. To see some of our favorites, click here.
excelglen/Flickr
You don’t always have to hike off the beaten path to find a waterfall in Ohio. From urban waterfalls you pass along the sidewalk to metropark waterfalls you can drive to, there are waterfalls hiding in plain sight all over the state. (For some suggestions on where to look for them, click here.)
April Dray/Only In Your State
When it comes to aboveground caves and colorful caverns, Ohio is full of several rock shelters to explore that will make you feel like Indian Jones himself. To view a map that leads you to some of Ohio’s most impressive caves, click here.
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